Posted in About Me, Cozy Mysteries

The Inn at Holiday Bay: Pilgrim in the Parlor

A heartwarming cozy mystery series about losing everything, taking a chance, and starting again.

After suffering a personal tragedy Abby Sullivan buys a huge old seaside mansion she has never even seen, packs up her life in San Francisco, and moves to Holiday Bay Maine, where she is adopted, quite against her will, by a huge Maine Coon Cat named Rufus, a drifter with her own tragic past named Georgia, and a giant dog with an inferiority complex named Ramos. What Abby thought she needed was alone time to heal. What she ended up with was, an inn she never knew she wanted, a cat she couldn’t seem to convince to leave, and a new family she’d never be able to live without.

In book 6 in the series Abby and Georgia are readying the inn for the Thanksgiving Holiday, when tragedy strikes and one of the guests turns up dead.

Meanwhile, a new group of guests have checked in, each with their own story to tell. Jeremy and Annabelle have moved into the basement apartment, Abby takes a walk down memory lane, Velma has a decision to make, and Georgia must come to grips with her own fear and doubt relating to her relationship with Tanner.

The Reviews

Kay Monk
5.0 out of 5 stars Thanksgiving plans are underway . . . fall leaves and pumpkins on the hearth!
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2019
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Pilgrim in the Parlor is the sixth book in the exciting The Inn at Holiday Bay cozy mystery series by Kathi Daley. The elements of a cozy mystery are present including suspense, romance, humor, love, friends and family, and a sense of community.

This story takes place in the charming tourist town of Holiday Bay, Maine. The main character is Abby Sullivan, a mystery writer from San Francisco who, after suffering a devastating personal tragedy, sold her condo, packed up all her belongings, bought a huge old house she had never seen in a town she had never been to, and moved to Holiday Bay. The story starts with the investigation of a dead man, an actor in town to direct the annual Thanksgiving pageant, who is found lying on the floor in the parlor of the inn. Again, Abby and friends work to find answers to the many questions they encounter in three or four different mysterious circumstances, including shocking information about her late husband.

There is a theme of second chances in this series and in many of Mrs. Daley’s stories. I love the way she writes in a continuing saga fashion with hints and clues to stories in the future (and red herrings). I love that not all questions are resolved in each book. I enjoy the character development and the expansion of Abby’s friend set. As always, this author’s writing flows smoothly, and her setting and relatable characters make for an extremely enjoyable and quick read. I really look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Posted in #BookTours

Royally Off-Limits

Royally Off-Limits
Kate O’Keeffe
(Royally Kissed, #4)
Publication date: November 6th 2025
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

He needs a royal redemption arc. She needs to keep her distance. The public wants a story, preferably a romantic one.

I called him Ledonia’s most eligible man-child in a headline. Now I’m living at his palace.

After my no-holds-barred exposé on Prince Maximilien goes viral, the royal family doesn’t banish me—they hire me. Apparently, the King and Queen think damage control looks like me filming an exclusive behind-the-scenes series on their charming, cocky, scandal-prone son.

Prince Max isn’t thrilled. In fact, he downright despises me. Which is fine. Because the feeling? Entirely mutual.

But the thing is, I didn’t expect him to be smarter, deeper, and somehow even hotter in royal pajamas. And I definitely didn’t expect to start falling for a man I’ve built a career out of publicly roasting.

There’s just one problem: He has no idea who I really am.

He may be a real-life prince, but I’m royally off-limits.

Enemies to lovers

Hidden identity

Forced proximity

One bed

Slow burn, kissing only

And a Labrador puppy called Toffee

Romantic, fun, and swoon worthy, Royally Off-Limits is a laugh-out-loud romp about a prince who has lost his way and a woman with a hidden past who has everything to lose. It’s The Princess Diaries for grown-ups meets The Hating Game. If you love opposites attract, forced proximity, slow burns, snarky banter, and a royal who accidentally falls hard, this one’s for you.

All the titles in the Royally Kissed series can be read as standalone novels or as part of the series.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Good people of Ledonia! Hold on to your fascinators because your ever-devoted royal correspondent is reporting on the most spectacular display of royal ridiculousness in recent memory!

I’m calling it The Scene of Aquatic Chaos, aka man-child Max getting up and personal with royal carp.

Every royal watcher’s favorite, Prince Maximilien, has provided us with enough entertainment to fuel my column for the next century. And trust me, darlings, this story is positively dripping with drama (quite literally, as you’ll soon discover).

It’s a perfectly civilized palace garden party. Cucumber sandwiches, pots of tea, children politely enjoying a slip ‘n slide, and our beloved royal family mingling with distinguished guests beneath the afternoon sun.

So far, so regal.

But then our himbo Max decided to transform this genteel gathering into something resembling a nature documentary gone spectacularly wrong.

After what sources describe as “a martini or two”, our Prince McHottie Junior apparently lost a bet with his friends. The stakes? A fully clothed journey down the children’s slip ‘n slide.

Now, one might think a twenty-seven-year-old prince would possess enough rudimentary knowledge of physics to calculate that about two hundred pounds of royal muscle hurtling down a children’s water slide might produce some unexpected results.

One would be mistaken.

What followed, according to multiple horrified witnesses, was nothing short of aquatic pandemonium. Our dear prince launched himself torpedo-style down the slide, landing in an 18th-century decorative fishpond, the very same pond that houses descendants of ceremonial carp gifted by the Thai King to the country of Ledonia over 200 years ago.

The result? Seven fish sent airborne in a spectacular display, captured in my trending TikTok (link below), featuring a child’s call of “Cannonball”. Because let’s face it, no quote says ‘dignified monarchy’ like a fully grown man in a pond.

Fear not, fish lovers among us. Every dislodged fish was scooped off the lawn and returned to the pond unscathed.

So, here’s to you, man-child Max, himbo extraordinaire, for reminding us that even princes are human, that aristocratic carp can fly, and even the most sophisticated garden parties can become disasters worthy of trending TikTok fame.

Your ever-devoted royal correspondent,

Fabiana Fontaine xx

#ManChildMax
#RoyalCannonball
#SpiceUpTheGardenParty

Author Bio:

Kate O’Keeffe is a USA Today bestselling author known for her fun, feel-good romantic comedies brimming with humor, heart, and happily ever afters. A native of New Zealand, Kate has crafted numerous popular series, garnering a devoted international readership.

With a flair for witty banter and irresistible heroines navigating the ups and downs of modern dating, Kate’s novels showcase strong friendships, comedic entanglements, and the of course sometimes bumpy but always hopeful road to love.

When she’s not writing, Kate can often be found reading romcoms, binging her favourite shows, or spending time with her friends and family in the beautiful Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Bookbub


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Posted in #BookTours

The Morning Glory Christmas Series


Three cowboys.

Three Christmases.

One small town where love always finds a home.


The Cowboy’s Christmas Blessing

Morning Glory Christmas Book 1

by Shirleen Davies

Genre: Sweet Contemporary Small-Town Western Romance



🎄A heartfelt cowboy Christmas romance about second chances, small-town healing, and the power of love.🎄

 

He left her behind once. This Christmas, will love bring him home for good?

 

After six long years, two military deployments, and a grueling recovery from an IED blast, Zachary Caldwell is finally home in Morning Glory, Wyoming, and the Flying D Ranch. He never thought he’d see the snow-covered streets of his hometown again… or the woman whose heart he broke with nothing more than a phone call.

 

Julia Grant has spent years rebuilding her life. She finds comfort in her job as a nurse at Mercy Clinic, the cozy routines of the Morning Glory Inn, and the stability of her small town. But when Zach walks through her door just weeks before Christmas, old memories and deeper feelings come rushing back.

 

She once dreamed of a future with him. Marriage. Family. A love that stays.

But dreams don’t always survive war, distance, and silence.

 

As Zach confronts the truth about his past, including the reason his parents abandoned him, Julia must decide if she’s willing to risk her heart a second time. Can she believe in him again when he’s still learning how to believe in himself?

 

Set against a backdrop of twinkling lights, blizzards, and heartwarming holiday traditions, The Cowboy’s Christmas Blessing is a clean, wholesome contemporary western romance about healing, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the one who never left your heart.

 

Amazon * Universal Link * Bookbub * Goodreads

 

The Cowboy’s Christmas Gift

Morning Glory Christmas Book 2


🎄A heartfelt later in life cowboy Christmas romance about second chances, small-town healing, and the power of love.🎄

Clean and wholesome contemporary western romance.

The Snowstorm Was Just the Beginning

Victoria Palmer hadn’t expected to spend Christmas in a town so small it barely made her GPS. But after a painful divorce and the betrayal of a husband now living with someone half her age, her twin sons insisted she escape the glitz of Beverly Hills for the snowy calm of Morning Glory, Wyoming. One snowstorm, two missed turns, and a very arrogant cowboy later, Victoria settles herself at the Morning Glory Inn—cold, flustered, and anything but merry.

Gabe Dupree never expected a spoiled city woman to march into his family’s inn, insult his hospitality, and throw his quiet December into disarray. A widower devoted to his daughter and his ranch, Gabe made peace with solitude years ago. But Victoria’s arrival brings disruption—and a spark he never thought he’d feel again.

As snow blankets the Wyoming landscape and the town gears up for its Christmas festivities, Victoria and Gabe are forced into each other’s paths more often than either prefers. Between tense encounters and accidental heart-to-hearts, they begin to uncover the hurt and longing hidden beneath their defenses.

Sometimes love doesn’t come wrapped in ribbons. Sometimes, it rides in on a snowstorm.

Neither are in Morning Glory looking for love, but sometimes the best gifts come when you least expect them—wrapped not in ribbons, but in second chances.

The Cowboy’s Christmas Gift is Book 2 in the Morning Glory Christmas series—a sweet, later in life, contemporary western romance full of holiday charm, second chances, and heartfelt family moments. Perfect for readers who love small-town Christmas romance, slow-burn love stories, and strong, swoon-worthy cowboys. Guaranteed HEA.

 

Amazon * Universal Link * Bookbub * Goodreads



The Cowboy’s Christmas Surprise

Morning Glory Christmas Book 3



Clean and wholesome contemporary western romance.

🎄A heartfelt cowboy Christmas romance about small-town healing and the power of love.🎄

Snowstorms, Secrets… and an Unexpected Family Christmas

Ethan Webster thought he had everything figured out—thriving career in Denver, a sleek loft, and weekends on the ski slopes. But one phone call from Italy changes everything. His sister and brother-in-law are gone, and their three young children need him now more than ever. Leaving the city behind, Ethan returns to Morning Glory, Wyoming—a snowy, small-town haven tucked into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Back in the hometown he never thought he’d live in again, Ethan leans on the one person he’s always trusted. Makayla Dupree. A dedicated veterinarian and lifelong friend, Makayla once taught him to ride horses and stood up for him when no one else would. This Christmas, she’s standing by him once again… this time to support him through his grief.

As the town sparkles with Christmas lights and the scent of pine fills the air, Ethan finds comfort in Makayla’s quiet strength, and sees her in a way he never did before. Their bond has always been strong, but grief, responsibility, and the magic of the season spark something deeper. Something that looks a lot like love.

But navigating newfound feelings and unexpected responsibilities isn’t easy. With the children still mourning, and Ethan unsure about his future, will the season of miracles bring them together—or pull them apart?

The Cowboy’s Christmas Surprise is a clean and wholesome Christmas romance filled with heartfelt family moments, small-town charm, slow-burning love, and the promise of a surprise love. Perfect for fans of cowboy heroes, emotional reunions, and uplifting holiday reads. It is book three in the Morning Glory Christmas series and features a guaranteed happy ending.

 

Amazon * Universal Link * Bookbub * Goodreads

 


Shirleen Davies believes love stories are best served with a dash of grit, a few stumbles, and a whole lot of heart.

She writes contemporary and historical romance about everyday folks who don’t always get it right the first time, but keep trying anyway. Raised near the sunny coast of Southern California, Shirleen spent her childhood bouncing between the beach and her grandparents’ farm, where she learned that nothing beats the smell of fresh hay or the quiet wisdom of a rocking chair on a porch.

Armed with degrees from San Diego State University and the University of Maryland (plus an unofficial PhD in people-watching and life experience), she crafts emotionally rich stories filled with flawed, stubborn, hopeful characters who discover love where they least expect it.

When she’s not writing about cowboys, deputies, or the women strong enough to tame them, Shirleen enjoys life in a picturesque northern Arizona town with her husband. She’s the proud mom of two grown sons, still believes in happy endings, and is convinced that redemption is just one good story away.

Subscribe to Shirleen’s newsletter here: https://geni.us/signupSDnwslttr

 

Website * Facebook * X * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!


Enter The Morning Glory Christmas Series Giveaway


Posted in Cozy Mysteries

The Inn at Holiday Bay: Haunting in the Hallway

A heartwarming cozy mystery series about losing everything, taking a chance, and starting again.

After suffering a personal tragedy Abby Sullivan buys a huge old seaside mansion she has never even seen, packs up her life in San Francisco, and moves to Holiday Bay Maine, where she is adopted, quite against her will, by a huge Maine Coon Cat named Rufus, a drifter with her own tragic past named Georgia, and a giant dog with an inferiority complex named Ramos. What Abby thought she needed was alone time to heal. What she ended up with was, an inn she never knew she wanted, a cat she couldn’t seem to convince to leave, and a new family she’d never be able to live without.

In book 5 in the series, the new bank president, who happens to be the son of the man who founded the community bank, is found dead and buried in his own grave. The man was not popular in the small community after making a lot of changes with his fathers passing and the list of possible suspects who might want him dead is extensive.

Meanwhile, it is October and the inn is hosting Halloween themed events. The haunted weekends are just for fun but when guests report hearing noises in the hallway, Abby wonders if the inn might actually be haunted for real.

Posted in #Classics

Sleeping Murder: Miss Marple’s Last Case

In Agatha Christie’s classic, Sleeping Murder, the indomitable Miss Marple turns ghost hunter and uncovers shocking evidence of a perfect crime.

Soon after Gwenda moved into her new home, odd things started to happen. Despite her best efforts to modernize the house, she only succeeded in dredging up its past. Worse, she felt an irrational sense of terror every time she climbed the stairs.

In fear, Gwenda turned to Miss Marple to exorcise her ghosts. Between them, they were to solve a “perfect” crime committed many years before.


Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Soon after Gwenda moved into her new home, odd things started to happen. Despite her best efforts to modernize the house, she only succeeded in dredging up its past. Worse, she felt an irrational sense of terror every time she climbed the stairs.

In fear, Gwenda turned to Miss Marple to exorcise her ghosts. Between them, they were to solve a “perfect” crime committed many years before.

From AudioFile

Gwenda and Giles Reed buy a lovely Victorian house. When she begins refurbishing the house, Gwenda discovers that tearing out a wall, putting in steps to the garden, or choosing new wallpaper for the nursery are actually restoring the house to an earlier appearance, one she couldn’t possibly know about. Then she has a vision of a dead woman lying at the foot of the stairs. Certain she is losing her mind, she turns to Jane Marple for help. Rosemary Leach becomes Miss Marple, flawlessly performing that clever lady, as well as Agatha Christie’s myriad other delightfully drawn characters. Leach switches in and out of a variety of British accents with assurance, and as Gwenda her hint of New Zealand is appropriately subtle. SLEEPING MURDER, Christie’s final novel, never disappoints. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine– Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine